On August 15, 2009, the off-Broadway science-fiction comedy StarStruck by Elaine Lee, Susan Norfleet Lee, and Dale Place, basis for the 1980’s comic book series by Elaine Lee and Michael Wm. Kaluta (who provided set and costume designs for the original production), will be presented for the first time in 25 years as an audio theatre-style live reading at the famed Henry Miller Library in Big Sur, CA.

Proceeds from the reading will help pay the medical bills of comics legend Gene Colan, the bills stemming from his bout with liver failure in 2007 and 2008. Colan is best known for his distinctive artwork on such titles as Iron Man, Daredevil, Batman, and Tomb of Dracula (from which the character Blade was introduced).

The reading will employ pre-recorded sound effects and live effects performed by a team of foley artists, coupled with composer Dwight Dixon’s music from the original off-Broadway production.

“Absolutely ecstatic” say Lance Roger Axt

Play it by Ear Productions, an audio theatre company in Pacific Grove, CA, will produce the event under the direction of Producing Director Lance Roger Axt. “I’m absolutely ecstatic that this is finally going to happen; speaking as both a longtime comics fan and a theatre artist, I’ve wanted to do something with this play for over a decade.

“And helping Gene and Adrienne Colan is an added bonus; they are two great people, and I’m more than happy to lend a hand.”

The performance also serves a second purpose: to test the timing of the piece before a live audience, which will ultimately serve a subsequent studio recording.

A StarStruck radio series is in development, the first piece being an audio adaptation of the off-Broadway comedy, to be recorded in Maine.

The series will be produced by the new AudioComics production company (of which Axt is a co-founder), who will be working directly with Lee and Kaluta on both the adaptation and on several new StarStruck pieces written specifically for the medium of audio.

Both a stage play (created by Emmy-nominated actress and writer Elaine Lee, and written by Lee, Susan Norfleet Lee and Dale Place) and a cult comic series (by Elaine Lee and renowned fantasy artist, Michael Wm. Kaluta), StarStruck was first presented at Network Theatre in New York City in 1980, and again at TOMY in 1983.

As the play opens, Captain Galatia 9 and the crew of the Harpy blast into space on a mission for the United Federation of Female Freedom Fighters. Flying with the amazon captain are a hotheaded Space Brigadier, a renegade nun, an empathic fish-woman and a reprogrammed pleasure droid who serves as science officer. When the Harpy runs into a living ship inhabited by a team of galactic evildoers, the outcome of the battle may well decide the fate of the free universe.

On the cusp of the benefit reading, an equally exciting announcement is to come regarding the StarStruck comic series’ return to print. Truly, 2009 is the year of the Female Freedom Fighters! Up the Brigades!

About Play it by Ear Productions

Based on the Central Coast of California, Play it by Ear Productions is an award-winning not-for-profit audio theatre production company devoted to the development, production, and distribution of original plays for radio broadcast, the internet, and compact disc.

In addition to the “We Have Ignition” series of plays, Play it by Ear also has two live performance components exclusive to the Central Coast, “Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear” and “A Signal to Noise.” Web address: www.playitbyearproductions.org

About AudioComics

Under the direction of Producers Lance Roger Axt, William Dufris, and Dan Bernard, AudioComics provides superior audio entertainment with its professional full-cast audio theatre adaptations of licensed and original properties from the world of comic books, graphic novels, and more.

AudioComics productions of classic, contemporary and world premiere properties will reach new audiences far beyond readers and comic book fans through the universally popular entertainment medium of multi-track recorded sound and music on CD and in downloadable form, accessible in today’s market with today’s sound. Web address: (forthcoming) www.audiocomics.wordpress.com

On August 15, 2009, the off-Broadway science-fiction comedy StarStruck by Elaine Lee, Susan Norfleet Lee, and Dale Place, basis for the 1980’s comic book series by Elaine Lee and Michael Wm. Kaluta (who provided set and costume designs for the original production), will be presented for the first time in 25 years as an audio theatre-style live reading at the famed Henry Miller Library in Big Sur, CA.

Proceeds from the reading will help pay the medical bills of comics legend Gene Colan, the bills stemming from his bout with liver failure in 2007 and 2008. Colan is best known for his distinctive artwork on such titles as Iron Man, Daredevil, Batman, and Tomb of Dracula (from which the character Blade was introduced).

The reading will employ pre-recorded sound effects and live effects performed by a team of foley artists, coupled with composer Dwight Dixon’s music from the original off-Broadway production.

“Absolutely ecstatic” say Lance Roger Axt

Play it by Ear Productions, an audio theatre company in Pacific Grove, CA, will produce the event under the direction of Producing Director Lance Roger Axt. “I’m absolutely ecstatic that this is finally going to happen; speaking as both a longtime comics fan and a theatre artist, I’ve wanted to do something with this play for over a decade.

“And helping Gene and Adrienne Colan is an added bonus; they are two great people, and I’m more than happy to lend a hand.”

The performance also serves a second purpose: to test the timing of the piece before a live audience, which will ultimately serve a subsequent studio recording.

A StarStruck radio series is in development, the first piece being an audio adaptation of the off-Broadway comedy, to be recorded in Maine.

The series will be produced by the new AudioComics production company (of which Axt is a co-founder), who will be working directly with Lee and Kaluta on both the adaptation and on several new StarStruck pieces written specifically for the medium of audio.

Both a stage play (created by Emmy-nominated actress and writer Elaine Lee, and written by Lee, Susan Norfleet Lee and Dale Place) and a cult comic series (by Elaine Lee and renowned fantasy artist, Michael Wm. Kaluta), StarStruck was first presented at Network Theatre in New York City in 1980, and again at TOMY in 1983.

As the play opens, Captain Galatia 9 and the crew of the Harpy blast into space on a mission for the United Federation of Female Freedom Fighters. Flying with the amazon captain are a hotheaded Space Brigadier, a renegade nun, an empathic fish-woman and a reprogrammed pleasure droid who serves as science officer. When the Harpy runs into a living ship inhabited by a team of galactic evildoers, the outcome of the battle may well decide the fate of the free universe.

On the cusp of the benefit reading, an equally exciting announcement is to come regarding the StarStruck comic series’ return to print. Truly, 2009 is the year of the Female Freedom Fighters! Up the Brigades!

About Play it by Ear Productions

Based on the Central Coast of California, Play it by Ear Productions is an award-winning not-for-profit audio theatre production company devoted to the development, production, and distribution of original plays for radio broadcast, the internet, and compact disc.

In addition to the “We Have Ignition” series of plays, Play it by Ear also has two live performance components exclusive to the Central Coast, “Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear” and “A Signal to Noise.” Web address: www.playitbyearproductions.org

About AudioComics

Under the direction of Producers Lance Roger Axt, William Dufris, and Dan Bernard, AudioComics provides superior audio entertainment with its professional full-cast audio theatre adaptations of licensed and original properties from the world of comic books, graphic novels, and more.

AudioComics productions of classic, contemporary and world premiere properties will reach new audiences far beyond readers and comic book fans through the universally popular entertainment medium of multi-track recorded sound and music on CD and in downloadable form, accessible in today’s market with today’s sound. Web address: (forthcoming) www.audiocomics.wordpress.com

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Working on a television series and full length stage play
Bit of a change of pace writing for visual media rather than purely for the ear.

The series is a comedy and the stage play is sports themed. Both are family friendly.